The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-04
Tlae Sunday School.
LESSON FOR JUNE IL, 1887.
THE COMMANDMENTS.
SINAI.
Exodus Xxx. I'LL

Horeb. the mount of COP, when Moses
was called to bring forth the children OF
Israel out of Egypt, ut was announced:"When
tbou hast brought forth the people out OF
Eovpt We shall serve COP upon this noun
+o;nn Iii. 12). Sinai was one of the peaks
of Horeb. The mountains of Horeb are sit
mated in the southern portion OF the PENN
sula of Sinai. which is formed by the arms
of the Red Sea. Mt. Sinai was about two
hundred miles distant from Goshen by the
route over which the Israelites made the
journey. They encamped in the plain before
the mount in the third month, probably
about fifty days after leaving Egypt. Here
the presence and power of the invisible ana
almighty COP could be manifested as no
where else in all that ancient region, II, III
deed. in the whole world. These mountains
are described by travellers as extremely grano
and awe-inspiring, especially when witnessed
in the midst of terrific storm OF thunaer
and lightning which frequently occurs there
durinp the hot season, the like OF whlcn the
Israelites may never have witnessed. Inc
surrounding valleys and table-lands were
we'll watered and more fertile than any other
district of the peninsula. In all respects the
region was favorable for the promotion OF
the divine purpose with Israel, the people OF
Con. He had led them from their "house OF
bondage" supplied them with water wnen
thirsty, sent them food when hungry, and
had given them victory in battle with their
enemies xiv. S-13). Here they might re-
main long enoughto be organized into holy
IIA tnht
and through whom it might be transmitted
to all the nations of the earth. First OF all
the people must be made impressively and
nermanently conscious of the existence, pres
ence and power of the invisible GOD who was
their Leader, and whom they were to accept
as their Ruler. For this purpose Moses led
them to the mount of His awful presence and
power.
The great plain of Ell Rahah-" the palm of
the hand" which is large enough to give ample
space for the tents of host of more than two
million souls, had doubtless been selected
from the first by Moses, to whom every glen
and mountain of the whole region had become
familiar during his long stay with Jethro. 1t
was. indeed, the only level ground in the whole
district which could accommodate the multi
tude as a whole Nor could filter theater
have been chosen for the great events Wh1cn
were soon to happen. The Sacred Mountain,
known in it's different peaks as sinai, tine
Jagged" Horeb, 1.-The dry" or bare, or SIM
nlv the Mount of COP, rose in awful grandeur
before the whole camp, stupendous heieht
of granite rocks, torn into chasms and preci-
pices, and shooting aloft in a wild confusion
of pinnacles, worthy the names they bore.
Valleys cut off it's stupendous form on ali
sides from the heights around, so thatlt STOOD
apart as if separated from all else Tor the lolty
honors now awaiting it. On the soutn lhe
heights of Sinai rose with overpower1ng maj
esty from the Sebaijeh, plain, like huge
granite monolith, 1900 feet into the SKY; the
pinnacles of the central hill, rent and SKATER
ed by the natural commissions, towering still
more sublimely aloft; while at the north END
of Horeb, wall of naked rock, l2OO TO l4Uo
feet high, rose in awful grandeur directly IN
front of the Hebrew camp. The heightened
annroach. as TO some natural sanctuary,
through framework of gigantic mountains,
had been itself a fitting preparation for the
coming scene, From every point the wall
of rock rose into the sky, in its lonely gran
deur like a huge altar in front of the whole
congregation, an awful throne from which the
voice of GOD might be heard far and wide over
the stiffness of the great plain below.
Everything around was in keeping with the
purpose for which the great Leader had
brought them hither. In such spot
every impression would act on the mind with
the utmost force. Safe in the bosom OF
the mountains, the Hebrews were now ready
for the higher organization required to con-
stitute them a free, independent and self-goV-
erning nation.-Getkie, Hours with the Bible.
Jethro, Moses father in-law, having heard
of the arrival of the Israelites from Egypt,
brought to Moses his wife and sons, who APP
pear to have been in INDIAN, the home of
Moses before going to Egypt to deliver his
people. During his visit, Jethro advised
Moses to give the people statutes and laws.
and to organize them for self-government
xviii. 1929. One can hardly avoid the i'm
preston that the incident is recorded because
of its relation to the giving of the law.
When the host encamped before the mount,
the cloud of smoke which had been their
guide appeared to envelope it. The noun
tain thus became to Israel the Divine dwell
ling place, Moses went up into the noun
tain, and when he returned he assembled the
representatives of Israel and told them what
that Israel was his special care, and that if
they would hearken unto His voice and obey
His law, He would choose them as His own
possession above all other nations, and make
them consecrated people; for all the earth
was His, and through them He would bless
the world. The assembly responded unani-
mously, "All that JEHOVAH hath spoken we
will do.' Whereupon Moses commanded
the people to purify themselves to stand be-
fore COP and receive His holy law. Three
days afterward COP descended upon the
mountain in a terrific storm of thunder and
lightning which covered it with cloud and
flame and made it quake nightly. Moses
brought the people from the camp to stand
opposite the mountain and witness the dis
play of Divine glory and power. He went
himself into the mountain, and again with
Aaron, and COP spake as with trumpet
from the flaming mountain, the Command
ments which were afterward by Divine di-
rection ("by the finger of CODY recorded
on two tables (tablets) of stone, and which
have formed ever since the basis of morals
and government for the foremost nations OF
the earth.
of the mountains were seen veiled in thick
clouds, through which lightnings quivered
and unintermittently, as if the vast height
were aflame; terrible thunders leaped from
crag to crag, and reverberated in multiplied